Phytoplasma diseases in sub-tropical and tropical Australia

Claire Streten-Joyce, Karen Gibb

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

    Abstract

    Phytoplasmas are phloem-limited plant pathogens that have been identified in over 1000 plant species worldwide. Outbreaks of the phytoplasma-related disease, papaya dieback, has resulted in 10-100% crop losses in south-east Queensland and Western Australia. Strawberry lethal yellows and green petal disease outbreaks in Queensland have led to 10-50% of strawberry runners being destroyed. Lucerne yellows disease has been reported to cause an annual loss of AU$7 million to the lucerne seed industry. Disease surveys in Australia have increased our understanding of phytoplasma diseases in Australia and these fastidious organisms have been detected in ?70 native and introduced plant species. The majority of the Australian phytoplasmas are assigned to the 16SrII group, however, a member of the 16SrXII group is more commonly associated with economically important diseases in Australia such as strawberry lethal yellows, papaya dieback and grapevine yellows. These phytoplasma diseases have been diagnosed using PCR primers specific for their 16S rRNA gene. Screening hundreds of samples using PCR is time consuming and expensive so current and future studies are characterising an Australian phytoplasma genome and identifying suitable targets for the development of a more rapid diagnostic test for phytoplasmas. � Australasian Plant Pathology Society 2006.
    Original languageEnglish
    Pages (from-to)129-146
    Number of pages18
    JournalAustralasian Plant Pathology
    Volume35
    Issue number2
    Publication statusPublished - 2006

    Fingerprint

    Dive into the research topics of 'Phytoplasma diseases in sub-tropical and tropical Australia'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

    Cite this